Ellie Goulding – Air Canada Centre, Toronto – June 19, 2016

Ellie Goulding brought her Delirium Tour to the Air Canada Centre Sunday night in a shroud of mystery and anticipation. Backed by beautiful kaleidoscopic images, a band, backup singers and a group of dancers, Goulding gyrated, danced, and jumped her way through a set that lasted over an hour.

Being only generally aware of her work, I was surprised and impressed by how fiercely independent both her and her music came across. Performing tracks from throughout her discography, it was Goodness Gracious from Halcyon that really started to fuel the crowd and provide the energy she sought. However, it was follow-up numbers Something In The Way You Move, and Outside (her collaboration with Calvin Harris) that sent the mostly teen crowd into a frenzy. Bringing the energy back down, Goulding then brought out her guitar and gave an acoustic performance of Devotion.

A highlight of the night for me was her performance of Army. A tribute to her best friend, she sang in front of large video backdrops featuring snapshots of them together, which then switched to display the ACC audience and their friends. I thought it was a really great way of incorporating her fans and giving them a moment to remember.

Goulding ended the night in a Raptors/OVO jacket while performing Anything Could Happen and Love Me Like You Do (from the Fifty Shades Of Grey soundtrack) in front of video screens displaying rainbow colored hands shaped in the form of a heart, as confetti rained down from the ceiling.

Goulding brought nothing but love for her craft and for her fans this past Sunday night, and it was just what Toronto needed.